I know how she feels. I too spend an inordinate amount of time either eating food or talking about eating food. Particularly when I'm travelling.

I only realised this the other day, when I decided to tally up how I spend my time while I'm travelling.

Taking a trip is easy - you jump on the plane, mess around for a few weeks, and before you know it you're back at work and it's like the whole thing never happened. But it's interesting to think about what you actually do during those couple of weeks away.

Going by the information most guide books give you, you'd think you'd spend about 10 per cent of your time on trains and planes, 20 per cent sleeping, 20 per cent eating, and 50 per cent wandering through churches, temples and museums.

But I reckon the reality is a bit different, so - using an average two-week block of travel - I decided to figure out exactly what I do on these overseas jaunts. Here goes ...

Sleeping - 29 per cent
Holidays seem to be about the one time in my life when I don't want to sleep a lot. The way I see it, it's time wasted. It's like when I was a kid playing Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiago - it's frustrating when you have to sleep instead of getting out there and enjoying life (or catching loose-lipped, globe-trotting supervillains). So it's a bit disappointing to realise that's what I do the most of.

Eating and/or drinking - 25 per cent
That's right, like Seerung and her Thai friends, I reckon I spend a solid quarter of my holidays either eating food, or planning where next to eat food, or talking about where we last ate food, or sitting in bars drinking. And probably talking about food. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Travelling - 22 per cent
This includes everything - planes, trains, buses, tuk-tuks, taxis, ferries, rickshaws, camels and elephants. It also includes waiting around in airports, train stations etc. It's amazing to think that you shell out so much cash to visit these incredible places, but what you spend the bulk of your holiday doing is the actual act of travelling.

Wandering aimlessly - 8 per cent
I seem to dedicate at least an hour or so a day to just tramping around on foot with no particular destination in mind. Sometimes I come across amazing things I never thought I'd see. Other times, I just get lost. Which leads me to ...

Finding my way home again - 3 per cent
Being a bloke, I'm morally obligated to attempt to do this by myself, without asking for anyone's help. So I need to devote a bit more time to it than others might have to. (Hint: always carry a card with your hostel's address on it.)

Looking at churches/temples/museums/art galleries - 4 per cent
Only 4 per cent? Am I some uncultured heathen? Maybe. But I maintain that there's only so much you can learn about a country from inside four walls. Get in, look at the famous painting/archway/sculpture/pottery, and get out. Maybe grab something to eat?

Shopping - 2 per cent
I don't like shopping at home, so it stands to reason that I wouldn't want to do it while I'm overseas. And I reckon a pretty solid chunk of this 2 per cent could be put down to "being dragged around shops by certain other people".

Going to sporting events - 1.5 per cent
I'd devote a lot more time to this if I could, but it's not the easiest thing to organise while you're travelling. Still, if there's a football/ice hockey/cricket/sumo wrestling match on, I'll be there.

Standing in line - 1.5 per cent
For banks, for money exchanges, for visas, for art galleries, for toilets, for food, for buses, for taxis, for food again ... Granted, some countries' approach to queuing is a bit more physical than others', but you still spend a fair amount of time waiting in line when you travel.

Lying in the sun - 1 per cent
What can I say, I have a pasty white complexion - devote any more time than this to lying around under than big yellow orb and I'd spend the rest of my holiday shedding skin like a snake.

Swearing I'll never drink again - 0.5 per cent
That's about 15 minutes every morning. Not sure what happens after that.

Everyone's different - what do you devote your time to while you're on the road?

Hope you're enjoying the Backpacker blog. There'll be a new one up on Fairfax Media websites every Wednesday. If you have any topic suggestions, or just want to send me some personal abuse/spam, you can drop in on my website here, or email me at bengroundwater@gmail.com. Happy travels!

LATEST COMMENTS

I liked to try and blend in with the locals and trying to avoid looking like a tourist. I don't carry around a camera as the only photos I take will be on my iPhone. I walk as much as I can. I was in New York i November and I walked everywhere and only took cabs late at night to get back to the hotel. I like the try as many different meals as possible and I love to go the local pub and bar and meet new people. At every single bar I went to in New York, I always found someone to talk to which is more than you get here. They are very friendly.

Posted by: George on February 10, 2010 10:43 AM

When i travel i feel like food becomes fairly important due to the fact that you spend massive amounts of time walking around places and exploring so you tend to work up an appetite. Breakfast also important as you have the whole day ahead!

Also if it's cold and your freezing your way around Europe as i just did for 7 weeks you then tend to want food as you can go sit somwhere warm and enjoy it.

And then waiting in lines, waiting to check in for planes, waiting at the gate......so much waiting......

Posted by: chels on February 10, 2010 12:18 PM

Eating and drinking are definitely up there, but another big one is reading... Reading guidebooks, maps, plaques on walls, menus (in various languages)and also just reading books (also combined with waiting, eating and drinking times)

Posted by: shannon on February 10, 2010 12:51 PM

I did a similar thing on a recent ski trip overseas for the 10 days we were away. I wanted to know how much time we actually skiied and whether it was worth the cost. I estimated that I spent about 22% sleeping, 15% on the snow, 18% eating, 15% wandering around, 5% shopping, 10% looking at stuff and 15% travelling. But then the whole exercise was pointless because the snow was so amazing that I'll be going back to Japan regardless.

Posted by: Catherine on February 10, 2010 12:59 PM

The two things I love most about travelling are the "wandering aimlessly" part and the actual "travelling" part. I absolutely love sitting in a train and rolling through some stunning landscape, plus there's usually the added excitement of knowing that you'll arrive somewhere interesting, so I even look forward to plane travel. So those two probably make up a far bigger percentage of my trips than on yours.

One thing that's not on your list, but is very high on mine is reading. I read a fair bit normally, but while travelling that goes through the roof! Much of it while waiting or travelling for sure, but I usually make time to read outside of that too.

As for shopping, I don't like doing that now, but love it when I'm travelling. You'll always find weird or unexpected stuff, or see what sort of things locals buy there. Plus you often end up with nice every day souvenirs. Especially clothes. Most of mine seem to get bought when I'm travelling which is great. Every morning when I open the wardrobe I'll remember that I bought this shirt Paris in 2001, those pants in San Francisco 2008, this t-shirt in Helsinki 2009, etc. I even have undies that I bought on the road that bring back nice memories. Well "undies that bring back memories" may not sound quite right....

Posted by: pto on February 10, 2010 1:05 PM

I think 'pto' knocked the nail on the head with their comment... its about exploring, experiencing new things, living like a local, finding new weird and wonderful things that you can take home and decorate your house with. Food is a major part, its one thing to go to a Vietnamese restaurant in say Footscray or Cabramatta, but to experience the real think in HCM or Saigon is something totally different.
Studying the internet travel sites is a major part of my trip and planning, I used to use the Lonely Planet and Frommers until the prices went through the roof.
Overall though I try to spend as much time as possible either immersed in the local environment or laying on a tropical beach somewhere... sounds like paradise from where I am currently sitting... a former factory in Mulgrave which has been 'converted' into office space.. without any natural light or windows... thanks NEC

Posted by: wilrc1 on February 10, 2010 1:32 PM

I'd say 25% time spent eating and drinking. Then spending 25% of the next day dealing with the consequences. (Especially from the drinking)

Posted by: SJM on February 10, 2010 1:45 PM

Rootin'? Dry and/or wet because you know, sometimes when you're on the dancefloor with a local lovely...it doesn't always lead to the goodies later on.

Posted by: wazza on February 10, 2010 1:55 PM

Depends on what sort of holiday I am going on. If I just want to recharge my batteries I think the ratio is 30% sleeping, 30% reading, 15% eating and drinking (I don't drink much), 20% swimming, wandering around the shops, watching other people and 5% travelling and waiting to travel.

If I want to see and do things I think the ratios are 30% sleep, 15% eating and drinking, 10% reading, 10% travelling and waiting to travel, 30% exploring, gawking down the camera lens, experiencing what it is I have gone to see, and 5% shopping. I think that travelling through a spectacular landscape on a slow train or bus is all part of the exploring and gawking, and there is nothing better than doing that through the Alps.

Posted by: Tamojuch on February 10, 2010 3:36 PM

For me shopping was definitely WAY WAY more than just 2% during my US trip! I'm not a big fan of shopping here but as soon as I saw the prices there, I think something snapped in my brain and all I could do was shop and shop! My US trip is now referred to lovingly as my shopping trip with a little bit of sights mixed in. Seriously. All my fondest memories include looking at price tags and ringing up sales and bargains at the cash register!

Posted by: Cazza on February 10, 2010 4:02 PM

For me its all about smells. Tropical heat and snow slush mean I am away, away and different foods scent the air and thats !00% fabulous %100 of the time.
I also love watching. I will never forget standing in the doorway of a Moscow shop watching a butcher, looking like an axe murderer, hack a carcass of something into unrecognisable pieces.
And then there are toilets which of course combine smell and sights sometimes beyond belief.The primitive ones are one thing and thats fine, but its the so called equivelent ones that remind me I am proud to be Australian.

Posted by: carol on February 11, 2010 3:56 AM

It's just HOCKEY, not "ice hockey". The other version of hockey that's played outdoors is called "field hockey". People down here need to get it straight.

Posted by: Eric J on February 11, 2010 7:22 AM

Ummm, Eric J - A few more people in the world play real(ie. field) hockey than the other, lesser version of the game played on ice. BTW, if you don't like the way "we" people say it, then go the f*ck back to the north pole where you belong.

Posted by: john on February 11, 2010 10:57 AM

Walking around aimlessly.

Did this once in Durban, South Africa.

Two local gents kindly bailed me up at knifepoint and borrowed my camera and cash which I am still yet to get back.

If you are going to walked around in a daze in some countries, my advice would be to invest in a sidearm firstly. It could save your life.

Posted by: Walkabout on February 11, 2010 11:07 AM

I generally do my travelling in the summer of the country im going to so a huge part of my day is spent roaming around the local supermarket looking for and eating weird local foods whilst making use of the aircon and freezer aisles. ahhhh cooolness!

Ive still get nightmares of the stinking hot dorm rooms where you get the broken restless nights sleep to the sound of your room mates snores, the fan squeaking and the zip zip zip of the bags of the early riser/late arriver. Even the crinkling of the plastic bag is deafening at the time of night!

Any source of aircon when im hot, tired and irritable is a bonus!

Posted by: Adz on February 11, 2010 12:00 PM

But John, you're talking about a bunch of third world countries. The places in the world that actually matter and that controls the media play ice hockey and there is a LOT more money in the real, original version of the game than there is in field hockey.

Posted by: Bart on February 11, 2010 7:28 PM

Hey Eric J,
Hockey (Field Hockey) is hundreds of years older that Hockey (Ice Hockey). I dare say if you live in the countries covered by Ice in winter , then call Ice Hockey just Hockey. Here is Australia Field Hockey is Hockey.
On topic...my 24 holday hrs are
30% sleeping/washing/grooming
10% eating
20% doing nuthin/swimming/reading
30% being a tourist/looking/walking
10% lost to my memory